The effect of sucralfate on the growth of cariogenic streptococci

Sucralfate, an aluminum salt of sucrose octasulfate, has been shown to be effective in reducing the discomfort of radiation therapy-induced oral mucositis. This study was done to determine whether sucralfate could be used as a nutritional source for dental caries-producing organisms. Three Streptococcus strains were cultured in a defined medium. Sucralfate powder was evaluated for its ability to be used as a carbohydrate food source by these organisms. The addition of sucralfate alone did not stimulate the organism's growth. The addition of sucralfate and glucose resulted in less growth than the addition of glucose alone. Increasing the sucralfate concentration from 1% to 10% in the glucose-containing cultures resulted in statistically significant growth inhibition (p less than 0.02). Sucralfate appears to have no cariogenic potential and may have some cariostatic potential.